An official said a senior faculty member at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi was dismissed for allegations of sexual harassment involving foreign researchers. The so-called incident occurred during a university event a few months ago.
An senior teacher at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) here was dismissed for allegations of sexual harassment involving foreign researchers, an official said Thursday. According to JNU sources, the incident allegedly occurred at a university event a few months ago. University officials confirmed that this was not an isolated case and received several complaints against professors in the past.
“This administration is committed to establishing a zero-tolerance policy for sexual predators, rent-seekers and corrupt employees,” JNU Vice President Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit told PTI. She said the firing reflects the university’s firm stance on campus safety and accountability.
The decision was made by the University Executive Committee (its supreme statutory body) and was subject to a detailed internal investigation.
The victim was allegedly a Japanese researcher who was harassed by faculty and staff during university activities. After returning to Japan, the researchers filed a formal complaint.
The matter attracted the attention of the Indian Embassy through diplomatic channels, and subsequently mentioned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the University. The Internal Complaints Commission (ICC) found the allegations credible. The Executive Committee then recommended termination without any benefits. Sources said the defendant has the right to appeal to the University Appeal Board or to appeal to the court.
Meanwhile, another faculty member in the Department of Environmental Sciences was dismissed on the research project for corruption allegations. The case has been referred to as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Fact-Investigation Committee’s report on the research project has also terminated two non-teaching staff.
In other cases, staff face penalties, including seizure, condemnation and mandatory sensitization training.
The Executive Committee also approved the conduct of the election of ICC’s middle school student representatives – the first of the university – to ensure that students play a direct role in matters related to gender sensitization and safety. “These decisions are a strong message that integrity and morality within the university will not compromise,” said a senior JNU official.
(This story has not been edited by DNA staff and published from PTI).
